Combing mechanism.



M. H. PIPER.

OOMBING MEGHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.15, 1910. 1,1 30,928. Pa ented Mar. 9, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1 THE NORRIS PEI'FRS CO v PHOTOVLITHCL. WASHINGTON u M. H. PIPER.

GOMBING MECHANISM.

APPLIOATION FILED MAR. 15, 1910.

Patented Mar 9, 1915.

4SHEETS-SHEET 2.

llllllllllll lllllll I! THE NORRIS PETERS C0. FH010-LITHO., WASHINGION. D. c.

M. H. PIPER.

GOMBING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.15, 1910.

1,130,928. I Patented Mar.9,1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

rl Ill JWZZZK' {W qran H 191/2761) THE NORRIS PETERS Ca. PHOITO-LITHQ. WASHING/ON c .M. H. PIPER.

GOMBING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED 111111.15, 1910.

1,1 30,928, Patented Mar. 9, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4 plane.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MYRON H. PIPER, OF WALPOLE, MASSAGHUSETTS ASSIGNOR TO UNITED PRINTING MACHINERY COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION GOMBING- MECHANTSM.

To all whom it may concern: 1 Be it known that I, MYRON H. PIPER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Walpole, in the county of Norfolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Oombing Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to combing mech anism which is employed for feeding sheets, one by one, from either a pile or previously feathered sheets. Oombing mechanism hitherto used has been subject to various objections, one of which is that the combing wheels in falling engage the sheet at slightly different times, the result being that the sheet becomes skewed. Hitherto it has been customary to provide combing wheels which have a free rise and fall when resting upon the sheet, and which are periodically raised to a fixed and predetermined horizontal The mechanism by which these combing wheels are elevated is such that the combing wheel which is initially in the lower horizontal plane is elevated first and the other is elevated when the first combing wheel rises tothe same horizontal plane, the two combing wheels being thereafter elevated in unison. Combing wheels are arranged one at either side of the sheet, and after having been elevated to the same horizontal plane they are simultaneously re-.

leased so that they may drop upon the next sheet. One side of the sheet is almost'invariably higher than the other, and when the two combing wheels are dropped simultaneously from the same horizontal plane that side of the sheet which is higher is engaged by its combing wheel before the other side, with the result that the higher side is advanced before the other, and in this way the sheet becomes skewed. When combing mechanism of this character is employed for feeding sheets from a pile repeated. operations of the combing wheel produce an ap preciable skewing of the top of the pile, including five hundred sheets more or less. When a side gage or register is. employed for guiding a side edge of a sheet the pile which becomes skewed by successive operations of the combing wheels becomes either cramped against the side gage or entirely removed from it, according to the direction in which the pile is skewed. This invention overcomes these difliculties by providing Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 9,;1915.

Application filed March 15, 1910. Serial No. 549,481;

combing wheels and actuating mechanism therefor Whicheliminates the cause of the skewing. This is accomplished by raising each combing wheel the same distance above its point of contact without regard to the horizontal planes of the other combing wheel or wheels. Instead-of elevating the combing Wheels to the same horizontal plane they may be raised to different planes according to the plane of their several points of contact with the sheet, each wheel being elevated in equal distance. When the wheels are thus elevated they are subsequently released with the result that they engage their respective portions of the sheet simultaneously because they have an equal ing operation. This is accomplished by providing combing wheels arranged in tandem formation, and at the same time providing combing wheels for the two sides of the sheets. For this purpose ithas been demonstrated by practice that four combing wheels are suificient when arranged so that-two may engage, the front portion of the sheet at opposite sides and two engage the rear por tion of the sheet at opposite sides. The rear combing wheels are driven at a somewhat more rapid rate of speed than the front wheels, thereby tending to advance the rear part of the sheet faster than the front part. When combing sheets in this manner the rear part of the pile to a depth of one inch more or less from the top is advanced toward the forward part of the pile, and'the intermediate portion of the pile becomes arched so that the air may enter freely between the sheets. One result of combing sheets in this manner is that the time required, is materially reduced, and the successive sheets are therefore advanced in 'On the drawings Figure 1 represents in plan view one form of combing mechanism constructed in accordance with this inven tion. Fig. 2 represents a side elevation thereof, partly in section. Fig. 3 represents a plan view on a larger scale of the driving mechanism for the combing wheels on one side. Fig. l represents a vertical section on line 4- l of Fig, 3. Fig. 5 represents a side elevation of the combing mechanism of one side, including the upper portion of a pile of sheets before-being combed. Fig. 6 represents a similar elevation in which the combing wheels are resting upon, and are in the act of combing the sheets.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts wherever they occur.

Referring first to Fig. 1, it will be seen that the combing mechanism is provided with four combing wheels which are inclicated at 10, 10, 11, and 11. These combing wheels are arranged in the form of a rectangle, each combing Wheel being adapted to engage a sheet near one of itsfour corners. The combing wheels 10 and 11, hereafter termed the front combing wheels, are in transverse alinement and engage the sheet or pile near the front edge. The combing Wheels 10 and 11, herea ter termed the rear combingwheels, are also in transverse alinement and are arranged toengage the rear portion of the sheet or pile. The combing wheels 10 and 10may moreover be arranged in longitudinal alinement, and the combing wheels 11 and 11 may likewise be arranged in longitudinal alinement. All of the combing wheels are mounted in such a,

manner that they may be adjusted transversely according to the requirements of 35 sheets of various widt s, and the rear combing wheels 10 and 11 are moreover adjus able toward and from the front combing wheels, so that they may be positioned ac I cording to the requirements of sheets of various lengths.

The combing wheels 10 and 11 are affixed respectively upon shafts 12 and 13, said shafts being journaled at the free ends of arms 14. The arms are aflixed upon inde pendently movable sleeves indicated at 15 and 15. These sleeves surround a shaft 16,

mounted in journals or bearings 17, supported by the frame of the machine. The rear combing wheels 10 and 11 are likewise affixed upon shafts which are indicated respectively at 18 and 19. These shafts are mounted in bearings at the free ends of supporting arms 20, the arms being afiixed upon sleeves 20 and 21, surrounding a continuous shaft 22. The shaft is mounted in bear ings indicated at 23, mounted upon the frame. Sleeves 15 and 20 are actuated in unison, to elevate the front and rear combing wheels 10 and 10, and the sleeves 15 and 21 are likewise actuated in unison, but independently of sleeves-15 and 20.

The power for driving the several combing wheels may be taken from one source if desired. As shown by Fig. 1, the source of power is a shaft 24:. In this embodiment shaft 24 is mounted and bears in a sleeve 25,

which forms part of means hereafter dc scribed for elevating the combing wheels. A sprocket wheel 26 ailixed on, the shaft 2a drives a chain 27 which passes over a sprocket 28 affixedupon the shaft 16.5

Sprocket wheels 29 and 30 affinednpon.

the shaft 16' are connected by chains 31 and 32 with sprockets 33 and 34, affixed respec tively upon the combing wheel shafts 12 and 13. The power for driving the rear combing wheels is received from the shaft 116' through the medium of a chain 35. The

chain passes over a sprocket on the shaft.

16, and over an idle sprocket 37 mounted upon a bracket 38 at the rear of the combing mechanism. The chain 35 engages a sprocket 39 affixed upon the shaft 22 which extends through the sleeves 20 and 21". Sprockets a0 and ll affixed upon'the shaft are connected by chains 42 and 43 with:

sprockets 44: and 45, affixed respectively upon. the shafts 18 and 19 of the rear combing wheels. It is proposed to drive the rear combing wheels more rapidly than the front combing wheels, and the several sprockets hereinbefore specified are so proportioned as to drive the rear combing wheels more rapi ly than the front combing wheels. In lieu of the aforesaid driving mechanism,

consisting of chains and sprockets, any other combing wheel mechanism, includingthe shaft 22 and its supports or bearings is mounted so as to be movable as a unit. The outer supports 23 are arranged toslide upon bars band 4:7 and the central support 23' is arranged to slide upon a bar L8. The bars as and 47 as here shown are provided with rack teeth 48, and the outer supports 23. are provided with brackets for the reception of a shaft 419 having spur gears 50 engaging the racks 4:8. The rotation of shaft 49 effects a uniform movement of the combing wheels 10 and 11 toward or from the front combing wheels, and the sprocket wheel 39 may remain in operative engagement with the chain 35 in any position. to. which the rear. combing wheels are moved. Oneend 51 of shaft 49 maybe formed toreceive a wrench orcrank by which the adjustment of the combing wheels may be obtained. The combing mechanism after being placed atthe desired position may be locked or clamped by any preferred means such as by Fig.

that shown by Figs. 5 and 6. For this purpose the bars 46 and 47 may be provided with a series of holes 52 and the sliding blocks mounted upon bars may be provided with holes adapted to register with holes 52. Pins 53 inserted through the sliding blocks and through holes 52 serve to fix the blocks with relation to the bars.

On-arm 14 of each of the front combing wheels and one arm 20 of each of the rear combing wheels may be provided with a segmental flange, the flanges being indicated respectively at 53 and 5 1. These flanges constitute the means by which the arms may be elevated to disengage the combing wheels from the sheets. The flanges are engaged by lifting dogs 55 which are formed with grooves 56 through which .the flanges extend. The grooves are broader than the flanges, and when the lifting dogs are disengaged from the flanges the flanges are free to move up or down with relation to the dogs. The dogs are carried by bell cranks 57 and are connected with their bell cranks by pivot studs 58. The bell cranks are mounted upon the sleeves 15, 15, 20 and 21, and are movable independently of said sleeves. The front and rear bell cranks on one side are connected by a pivoted link, and the front and rear bell cranks on the other side are connected by another pivoted link, said links being indicated respectively at 59 and 60. The forward bell crank 57 at one side is furthermore connected to one end of link 61 and the forward bell crank at the other side is likewise connected to one end of link 62. Links 61 and 62 are connected to rock-arms 63 and 64: which are actuated as hereafter explained to eflect the raising of the combing wheels. As shown 5 the combing wheels are elevated above the top of the sheet A of the pile of sheets, the pile being illustrated in the condition which prevails before the combing operation is begun.

Fig. 6 shows the combing wheels resting upon the top of a pile which is here shown in the condition which prevails after the combing operation has progressed to some extent. When the combing wheels are in the position shown by Fig. 6 the lifting dogs 55 bear upon fixed stops 65 and are held in engagement with their stops by springs 66. hen the dogs are in this position they are disengaged from the segmental flanges 53 and 54 and the arms 14 and 20 are free to rise and fall.

The lifting of the combing wheels is effected by the movement of links 61 and 62 in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 6. The initial movement'of the links causes a rocking of the lifting dogs on their pivot studs 58 and the diagonal edges of the lifting dogs are thus operatively engaged with the segmental flanges. A further dogs toraise arms 14 and 20 and thus raise the combing wheels. It will be apparent that the lifting dogs on one side are actuated simultaneously because they are connected with each other by links and bell cranks hereinbefore described. It therefore follows that the segmental flange of combing wheel 10 and that of the combing wheel 10 are simultaneously engaged and are elevated through arcs of equal length, although they are not necessarily elevated to the same horizontal plane. The several connections and the mode of operation of the combing wheels 11 and 11 on the other side of the machine are in all respects similar with relation to that set of combing wheels.

In connection with the operation of the tripping mechanism hereafter described it a will be explained how the combing wheels 10 and 10 on one side of the machine may be elevated independently of those on the other side, and how all four of the combing wheels become simultaneously when they are in their elevated positions so that, having equal distances/to drop before engaging the sheet, they simultane ously engage the sheet and advance both sides of the sheet equally.

The mechanism for controlling the raising of the combing wheels and for releasing the combing wheels does not form any part of the present invention, but forms the subject matter of my co-pending application filed June 28, 1909, Serial No. 504,637. A general description of said mechanism may be included in the present application for the purpose of disposing of the necessity of referring to said co-pending application.

The sheets which are advanced by the combing wheels pass over a ridge-plate which is indicated at 70 in Fig. 2. This ridge-plate is inclined and to some extent controls the advancement of the sheets within one inch more or less at the top of the pile. The forward edge of the top sheet after passing over ridge plate 70 enters between cobperative rolls 71 and 72. Rolls 71 are aflixed upon a shaft 73, which is preferably driven at a relatively rapid speed by mechanism of any preferred form. As shown by Fig. 1 shaft 73 is provided with a gear 7 1 by which may be driven. Rolls 72 are carried by arms 75, which are aiiixed upon rock-shafts 76. The rock-shafts as shown by Fig. 1 are arranged end to end in alinement with each other, but one is movable independently of the other. Each rock-shaft 76 is provided with a rigid arm 77 and each arm 77 is connected by a link 78 with an arm 79. The two arms 79 are loosely mounted upon the independent sleeves, 25, 25, one at either side of the machine.

The-arms 7 9 are moved in onereleased direction by springs, 81 and in the opposite direction by cams 82, affixed upon a cam shaft 83. The cam shaft is driven continuously in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 2. Connected to each of the arms 7 9 is a plunger 84, said plungers extending through bosses 85 on the frame of the machine. The outer ends of the plungers are provided with nuts orcollars 86 which are adapted to engage the bosses and limit the movement of the plungers. Springs 81 are coiled on the plungers and are compressed between bosses 85 and collars 87 aflixed upon the plungers. Then the arms v79 are moved toward the combing wheels by their springs 81 they elevate the rolls 72 through the medium of links 78, the arms 77, rock-shafts 76 and arms 75. When the arms 79 are moved in the opposite direction by the cams 82 which engage rolls 88 at the free ends of said arms, the springs 81 are compressed and the rolls 72 are moved into cooperative engagement with rolls71. Suitable retaining and trip ping mechanism is provided for holding the rolls 72 in cooperative position, and for releasing said rolls so that they may be elevated by the spring 81.

The sleeves. 25 and 25 are mounted in brackets 89. Arms 91 are formed with or attached to the arms 79 so as to .be rigid with relation to said arms 79. The free ends of the arms 91 are provided with rolls 92, said rolls cooperating with detents 93 pivoted at 94. The lower ends of the 'detents are engaged bylatches 95, said latches being affixed upon rock-shafts 96. The rockshafts as shown by Fig. 1 are arranged end to end in alinement and extend transversely of the machine. The rock-shafts are movable independently of each other. Eachlatch is associated with feeler or trigger 97, said trigger extending toward rolls 71. The lower end of each trigger normally lies in the path of the sheet and is engaged and displaced by the sheet when the sheet is caught by rolls 71 and 72.

The rolls 92 at the ends of arms 91 be come inter-engaged with detents 93 when arms 79 are displaced by the cams 82, and when the rolls 92 are thus inter-engaged the latches 95 normally assume operative engagement with the lower edge of the detents and the feelers or triggers 97 normally are rigid with: relation to each other are moved. by the springs 81 to the position shown by Fig. 2. The arms 79 are provided with abutments which engage complemental abutments formed upon the arms 90. The arms 90 are affixed to the sleeves 25 andi25'f and-in thisway the sleeves are rocked by the arms 79. At the inner ends of thesleeves 25. and 25 are affixed arms 63 and M which are connected to the links 61, 62

of the combing mechanism. It will thus be seen that the combing wheels on one side are elevated by one of the springs 81 and that the combing wheels on the other side are elevated. by the other spring 81.

The arms 90 are: provided with rolls .98 which are engaged by'cams 99 on the shaft 83. The cams 99 maintain the combing wheels in their elevated position while the cams '82 act to restore the tripping mechanism. The combing'wheels drop when the rolls 98 arereleased by the cams 99.

The delivery of the sheets to the press or other machine may be accomplished by feed ing means of any preferred construction. Feeding means forthis purpose forms no part of the present invention, but is included in the drawings. Figs. 1 and 2 include drop rolls 100 which may be' moved toward and from cooperative delivery rolls (not shown) on shaft 73. As here shown the droprolls are carried by arms 101 affixed upon arock-shaft 102.. The rock-shaft'is provided. with an. arm 103 which is engaged by spring 10% by which the drop rolls are normallyseparated from the delivery rolls. Following the displacement of the triggers 97 and the consequent raising of the combing wheels the drop rolls are moved toward the delivery rolls by a cam 105 which engages a roll .106 at the free end of the arm 103.

Referring once more to the combingi mechanism, it maybe stated that the flanges I 53 and 5st which are engaged by the lifting dogs may be made. as long as desired so that the free rise and fall of the combing wheels may be practically unlimited.

It will be understood that the combing mechanism herein described and forming the subject matter of this invention may be ap plied to sheet feeding mechanism of various types and construction. For this reason. it is considered unnecessary to include acomplete machine in the drawings and a description of a complete, machine in the specification. It may be stated, however, that Fig. 2Vincludes a platform 107 which supports the pile of sheets, and which maybe elevated step by step as the sheets are remately the same horizontal plane. It has been found in practice extremely difi'icult. to separate sheets of paper having glazed.

finish when combing mechanism of the usual type is employed, that is, combing mechanism in which the combing devices are arranged abreast of each other. The same difficulty is experienced also when several colors are applied to the sheets by separate operations because the coloring matter causes the sheets to adhere. Sometimes four or five cycles of the combing mechanism are required to separate the top sheet from the pile. On the other hand it has been demonstrated that combing devices arranged in tandem, in accordance with the present invention effect an initial separation of the sheets suflicient to admit air and to prevent the sheets fromadhering. One cycle of the combing mechanism is always sufficient to remove a sheet when the combing devices are arranged in tandem formation. It is obvious that the loss of time and relatively slow output of a feeding machine which fails to remove a sheet for each cycle of the feeding mechanism are serious objections, especially in connection with a job involving severalthousand sheets.

Having thus explained the nature of my said invention and described a way of constructing and using the same, although without attempting to set forth all of the forms in which it may be made or all of the modes of its use, what I claim is 1. Sheet-feeding mechanism comprising combing devices adapted to rest freely upon a pileor bank of sheets, independently movable carriers for lifting said combing devices, each of said carriers having oppositely disposed surfaces extending parallel to the movement thereof, and lifting devices having oppositely disposed surfaces adapted to engage said surfaces of the carriers, said lifting devices being'capable of angular movement for gripping and releasing said carriers.

2. Sheet-feeding mechanism comprising combing devices adapted to rest freely upon a pile or bank of sheets, independently movable carriers for lifting said combing devices, each of said carriers having oppositely disposed surfaces extending parallel to the movement thereof, lifting devices having oppositely disposed surfaces adapted to engage said surfaces of the carriers, said lifting devices being capable of angular movement for gripping and releasing said carriers, and means for actuating said lifting devices in unison to lift said combing devices.

3. Sheet-feeding mechanism comprising combing devices adapted to rest freely upon a pile or bank of sheets, independently movable carriers for lifting said combing devices, each of said carriers having oppositely disposed surfaces extending parallel to the movement thereof, lifting devices having oppositely disposed surfaces adapted to engage said surfaces of the carriers, said lifting devices being capable of angular movement for gripping and releasing said carriers, means for positioning said lifting devices so as to render said carriers free to move when the combing devices rest upon the pile or bank of sheets, and means for actuating saidlifting devices to grip and move said carriers.

t. Sheet-feeding mechanism comprising. combing devices adapted to rest freely upon a bank or pile of sheets, oscillatory carriers for said combing devices, gripping devices movable about the axis of said carriers, means for actuating said gripping devices to lift said combing devices, each of said carriers having oppositely disposed surfaces concentric to the axis of said carriers, each s of said gripping devices having oppositely disposed surfaces adapted to engage said concentric surfaces, said gripping devices being capableof angular movement for enabling them togrip andrelease said concentric surfaces.

5. Sheet feeding mechanism comprising front and rear combing devices for each side of the sheet, said devices being adapted to rest independently of each other upon the sheet, means for lifting the combing devices on one side, and means for lifting the combing devices on the other side, said first'and second lifting means being adapted to operate. simultaneously or at different times, and each being adapted to disengage its respective combing devices simultaneously from the sheet when said combing devices are supported in various relative initial planes, and to lift them equidistantly and release them simultaneously so that they are caused to strike simultaneously parts of the sheet Which lie in various planes.

6. Sheet-feeding mechanism comprising combing devices adapted to rest freely upon a pile or bank of sheets, oscillatory carriers for said combing devices, said carriers having concentric flanges, gripping devices 77 a combing device, lifting mechanism including coactive gripping elements for lifting said combing device from the sheet, and means arranged to move one of said gripping elements to release said combing device.

8. Sheet-feeding mechanism comprising a combing device, two coactive gripping elements for liftingsaid combing device, one of said elements being adjustable relatively to the other by said combing device when the latter is supported by the sheet, and means for actuating said other of said gripping elements for the purpose stated.

9. Sheet-feeding mechanism comprising a plurality of combing devices for operating simultaneously upon a sheet, two sets of coactive gripping members for lifting said combing devices, said members of one of sheet, means for coacting with one of said members to free it from, the other, whereby said combing device is permitted to rest freely upon. the sheet, and means for actuatmgsaid one tocoact with said otherto liftz said combing device.

11. Sheet-feeding mechanism comprising a plurality of combing devices arranged to rest freely upon a sheet, lifting mechanism including coactive gripping devices for ilifting and lowering said combing devices,-and= means arranged to be engaged by said gripping devices when said combing devices are lowered, to simultaneously release said combing devices from said gripping devices. In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

MYRON 1-1. PIPER.

WVitnesses EuNIon P; GILMORE, G'ERTRUDE WHITNEY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of- Patents, Washington, D, C.

Correction in Letters Patent No. 1,130,928. I

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,130,928, granted March 9 1915, upon the application of Myron H. Piper, of Walpole, Massachusetts, for an improvement in combing Mechanism,an error appears in the printed specification requiring correction as follows: Page 1, line 67, for the Word in read an; and that the said Letters Patent should be read With this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 23rd day of March, A. D., 1915.

J. T. NEWTON,

[SEAL] Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

